Prospective retirees and the just plain curious showed up at the Redding Library Tuesday night to learn some of the ins-and-outs of Social Security. There’s a lot more to it than just turning 65.
Every situation is different of course, but in general everyone falls under the same set of rules. Jennifer Gomez of the Social Security Administration says it’s always a good idea to get the information straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, and not to rely on the good intentions of a friend or relative.
“You might be one age and your spouse may be older, they may be younger, they may have worked more than you, they may have worked less than you,” Gomez says. “You may be still working, you may have stopped working, you may have been taking care of your children, you may have been disabled. So there’s all kinds of different situations and so that’s why it’s really important to come straight to us.”
While they can’t make any decisions for you, Gomez says they will give you all of the information you need to decide when you want to retire, whether or not your spouse can collect from your account, and how much you will receive each month. And with several different programs available you may receive more or less depending on eligibility.
Gomez says the best way to answer questions is by using the website socialsecurity.gov. You can also call to make an appointment, or visit your local Social Security office.